Anabolic steroids in the training and treatment of athletes

The use of anabolic steroids has become widespread in the athletic population in the hope of developing a competitive edge. The theoretical advantages of increases in lean body mass, body weight, and muscle strength have been difficult to document in the athletic population because of an inability to define a satisfactory placebo or safely test the extremely high doses of steroid purportedly used by the athletic population. Those studies that are available suggest that while some mild weight gain and lean body mass increase may be noted, athletic performance itself is not significantly altered by steroid use. The significant negative side effects that can occur, particularly those that alter liver function and endocrine balance, suggest that there is little to support the use and abuse of these drugs in the treatment and training of athletes.